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Simba Makoni not a 'trick'
David Coltart
March 03, 2008

In a move that took us all by surprise Simba Makoni announced on the 5th February that he was going to stand as an Independent candidate in the Presidential election. Although there had been much press speculation about this many wondered whether Simba Makoni would have sufficient courage to take a stand against Robert Mugabe. If the announcement came as a surprise, so too did the reaction of the people in Bulawayo and in many places throughout the country to the announcement. I never realised the level of grassroots support for Simba Makoni until the day after his announcement when my phone started ringing. Since then I have been told by many people from all walks of life that they believe Simba Makoni provides the best way out of the mess that Zimbabwe finds itself in today. Responding to these developments the MDC National Council met in Harare on Sunday the 10th February and unanimously agreed to mandate the management committee to enter into coalition talks with Simba Makoni.

That has now resulted in Arthur Mutambara standing down from the Presidential election in the national interest and in broad agreement being reached with Simba Makoni that we will not contest Senatorial, House of Assembly and Council seats against each other. In short we have now agreed to support Simba Makoni-s candidacy for President. Ironically what we had hoped to achieve with the MDC (MT) - a coalition - we have now achieved with Simba Makoni. I should stress that we are standing as a separate political entity and those elected under the MDC will represent the people in Parliament as MDC members as they always have in the past. I and my colleagues, many of whom have long and consistent records of opposing the Mugabe regime, have no intention of changing course now at the eleventh hour, fifty ninth second, of his rule. We believe that in the context of the MDC (MT) formation refusing to form a coalition with us, and in the context of the remarkable reaction from the voting public to Simba Makoni-s announcement, this provides the best chance the nation has of ending the Mugabe regime-s rule.

We are reinforced in that belief by the events that unfolded in nomination courts countrywide which have revealed very serious deficiencies and ongoing divisions within the MDC (MT) formation. Aside from the failure to field councillors in many Wards throughout Matabeleland the emergence of the Kombayi/Matibenga faction within the MDC (MT), and the nomination of its own candidates in some 22 constituencies mainly in the Midlands (but also in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West, Central and East, Harare and Masvingo Provinces) will seriously undermine Morgan Tsvangirai-s ability to attract the same support he enjoyed in Matabeleland and the Midlands in the 2002 Presidential elections. In 2002 Morgan Tsvangirai won the Presidential election narrowly by some 70000 votes because he enjoyed overwhelming support in urban areas and the rural areas of Matabeleland and Midlands. Unless he can maintain that support he will be hard pressed to win. The failure of the MDC coalition agreement and the serious divisions within the MDC (MT) formation may seriously undermine Morgan Tsvangirai-s support base. A successful campaign needs electricity, unity and optimism if it is to gather momentum and ultimately win countrywide; without that it will falter and lose.

Whilst most people I have spoken to in the last two weeks are enthusiastic about our decision some have raised one of two questions - some fear this is just another Zanu PF "trick"; others argue that in any event Simba Makoni does not deserve our support because of his past association with Zanu PF.

I do not think this is a trick. It is illogical for Mugabe to put forward a candidate who will take away much of his own vote. Mugabe must have known about the provision in the Electoral Act which states that a Presidential candidate has to get an absolute majority ( over 50%) to win the Presidential election. All that Simba Makoni has to do to deny Mugabe that clear majority is to take away just 10% of the vote Mugabe got from Zanu PF supporters in 2002. If Mugabe does not get a clear majority in the first round he then will have to face off again in rerun against the opposition candidate who came second. That rerun has to be within 21 days of the 29th March and will be a straight fight with no danger of the opposition vote being divided - Mugabe-s worst nightmare. It would just be sheer lunacy for Mugabe to have concocted a plan that could backfire so badly in this way. Also if it is a trick why did Mugabe delay the nomination day and then conduct a purge of all those he thought were supporting Makoni? If it is a trick why is there such deep consternation in Zanu PF about this development? If it is a trick why has Mugabe in the last few days spewed out such venom against Makoni calling him a prostitute and a frog?

But the most compelling argument why this is not a trick is the following. When the MDC coalition agreement collapsed on the 3rd February Robert Mugabe was presented with his best possible election environment - a united (on the surface at least) Zanu PF against a divided MDC. Why possibly would Mugabe destroy that by allowing his own party-s "unity" to be fragmented just two days later when Makoni-s bid was announced? It is just absurd to think that Mugabe would have consented to such a thing.

I do not think that a person-s past should automatically bar him from a role in government. I am more concerned about where he stands NOW and in the FUTURE. All of us have done things in the past we are not so happy about. Many of the current MDC leadership were members of Zanu PF during the Gukurahundi and did not speak out. There are others in the MDC (MT) leadership who are now critical of Simba Makoni who were given senior appointments by Mugabe during the Gukurahundi period and never spoke out publicly against what was happening. There are others who are now in senior leadership positions in the opposition who were either members of Zanu PF or who considered standing for Zanu PF right up to the 2000 referendum. But that is all in the PAST and I do not believe that anyone should be automatically disqualified because of positions they have held in the past. If a person shows genuine repentance - a turning away from the past - that person should be eligible for support.

The Bible - 2 Chronicles 7:14 - has some words of wisdom for the situation we face in Zimbabwe today:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

I think we can see in Simba Makoni a person who has turned from the past and is prepared to turn his back on the evil perpetrated by Zanu PF. In all the research I have done into Gukurahundi there is no evidence whatsoever to show that he was in anyway involved in that crime against humanity. As far back as the early 1990s he expressed deep concern about Zanu PF policy but believed that he should work within to reform. Since then the factual record shows that Simba Makoni had the guts to stand up to Mugabe in 2002, has never taken a farm, has never been involved any corruption scandals and now has shown exceptional bravery in challenging Mugabe in the Presidential election. In the last year he has spoken out publicly and boldly against the regime-s abuses including the torture of opposition leaders last March. All who know him personally, diplomats included, state that he is a man of integrity. The respected Washington Post newspaper wrote on the 20th February 2008 that "Simba Makoni is viewed by U.S. officials as a smart, honest technocrat."

I have been greatly encouraged by his recent statements and his policy positions on a whole range of issues including the need for a new democratic constitution and genuine reconciliation. His statement that he is more loyal to his country than he is to his party is noteworthy. In his manifesto Simba Makoni states that he wants to "address national issues that separate and divide us as a nation" and to "institute a process of national healing and reconciliation". He also wants to "restore Zimbabwe-s standing within the international community". These are acknowledgments that all is not well in our nation. But this is a national responsibility - we all have to "humble ourselves". We all have to acknowledge mistakes that we have made. Now is certainly the time for us to reach out to moderates in Zanu PF who are more loyal to their nation than they are to their party. We must always remember that just as Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the United States knows that he cannot win the Presidential election in the US without attracting Republican and independent support, so too the opposition must recognise that it cannot win our elections unless we attract substantial numbers of Zanu PF supporters to vote for a new, democratic Zimbabwe.

As we go to vote, and if we want to heal our nation, we should ask ourselves the following 2 questions:

1. Who of Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni is most likely to defeat Robert Mugabe? We must always keep in mind that until Mugabe leaves office there will be no new dawn and healing in our land. That is the first and most important step we have to take. My view is that irrespective of Morgan Tsvangirai-s great qualities of courage and perseverance he has not managed to unite his own party, never mind the nation and to that extent will be hard pressed to attract substantial support right across the country. On the contrary in the short time since announcing his candidacy Simba Makoni has excited the electorate right across the political spectrum and will undoubtedly, if supported enthusiastically by us all, attract massive support from all quarters. In short he stands the best chance of beating Mugabe.
2. Who, after winning an election, will be the most competent to govern and to stabilise and grow our economy? There is no doubt in my mind that Morgan Tsvangirai will go down in history as one of the most important men who broke Zanu PF-s back; but that does not mean that he is now the best person to pull Zimbabwe out of its economic quagmire. Zimbabwe is in such deep trouble that it will take a collaborative effort from many patriotic Zimbabweans to restore her. Unfortunately Morgan Tsvangirai has not managed to build an effective and cohesive team during the 9 years he has been in leadership. In contrast a recent independent poll conducted in Zimbabwe found that most Zimbabweans view Simba Makoni as a level headed person who does have the skills to lead Zimbabwe out of its current mess. He also enjoys much respect in the diplomatic community.

Accordingly I urge you to vote for Simba Makoni for President and for your local MDC candidates in the Senatorial, House of Assembly and Council elections. I sense that there is a remarkable new mood in the country and despite the fact that the Mugabe regime will try to rig the result it will fail to do so. That is because, firstly, there is a tidal wave of feeling that it is time for Mugabe to go and, secondly, because for the first time ever those responsible for rigging the elections in the past are not united themselves. That will make it well nigh impossible for those trying to rig to get away with their criminal behavior.

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